Liverpool signed both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike for a combined £204million this summer but Arne Slot hasn’t found a way of successfully fitting them into the same line-up
Jamie Carragher admits that Arne Slot hasn’t found the answer to Liverpool‘s biggest problem – fitting Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike into the same line-up. Liverpool broke the British transfer record to sign Isak in a £125million deal from Newcastle, but he’s yet to score in the Premier League since joining.
Meanwhile, Ekitike – who cost £79m from Eintracht Frankfurt – has been much more prolific. The Frenchman netted in his first three games for Liverpool but has had to share the minutes with Isak ever since the Swede’s arrival.
With Isak out injured for the Reds’ last two games through injury, Slot has been forced to start Ekitike – and Carragher reckons that it should stay that way. In the long term, however, the Liverpool legend admits that it’ll be much more difficult for Slot.
“Ekitike has to play now,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “I could totally understand it’s not easy – and this was always my reservation about buying two strikers for that much money, who both play in the same position.
“It’s very difficult to see a Liverpool team or any team get two strikers on the pitch unless maybe you’re playing three at the back. It’s not easy to do that.
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“So, I understand trying to get Isak in the team even though Ekitike was doing well because he’s a great player, he’s got to get him fit and he’s also paid a lot of money for him. My mind boggles, going forward, [at] how this is going to work.
“But right now Ekitike has got the shirt, he’s playing really well and it’ll probably do Isak a little bit of good if he’s not so much out the team but maybe builds his fitness up more in training rather than in the games right now.
“There’s obviously a lot of fingers getting pointed at [Isak] and it means Ekitike’s gotta be on the bench which is not right at the moment… But where does he come back in? I knew this’d happen. I knew this at the start of the season.”
Who should start for Liverpool – Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
Slot won’t have that headache when Liverpool host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Reds boss ruled Isak, Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong out of the match.
“All three are not available tomorrow,” Slot confirmed. “Jeremie and Alisson will both not be available for Sunday [at Manchester City]. With Alex, we have to wait and see.
“He definitely is not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be in the squad. But he is still not training with the team so we have to wait and see.”
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